Praetor

Joni Eareckson Tada writes about “Stem cells: A view from a wheelchair”. As a quadriplegic she and other disabled people feel vulnerable in a society that disregards the rights of the weak, the infirm, the unseen and the very, very small. She is discussing the issue of the pro’s and cons of stem cell research and the attitude of doctors that the use of embryos is really nothing more than a mindless clump of cells or of no more worth than a potato to be used and then discarded.
This is evolusionistic thinking that has permeated our society. How can they think like that? Why is it OK to abort unborn babies? Because they believe that from conception the cells go through the evolution process until a human is formed at birth. You can reason like that when you don’t have any objective standard of right and wrong. As Joni says, “there’s something deeply unsettling about tearing into a human embryo for its spare parts.
Is it true that life only starts at birth?
Jer 1:5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I consecrated you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
When John the Baptist’s mother was informed that she will fall pregnant at long last, she was instructed how to behave. Luk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
The Holy Spirit took control of him whilst he was still in the womb.
Mary was informed about six months later that she would also be with child. When she goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth a strange thing happens. Luk 1:41-42 And it happened as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
The unborn child of Elizabeth reacts to the foetus in Mary’s womb. These are human beings that are spoken about here. Not a “potential human being” or “a blob of tissue”.
Why are human beings in control of this planet? Why are animals subject to human beings? Gen 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
God who created us, out us in charge of the planet. We haven’t always done a good job, but that is our responsibility for which we will have to be accountable. But have you noticed, God also says that He created mankind in his image. He considered us (humans) so valuable and important that He was prepared to invest himself in us by putting his characteristics in us. This set us apart from all other creatures (animals, birds, fishes). I want to spell it out, being created in the image of God makes us superior to other creatures. This means that all human life is sacred because God made it.
God cares about the people He created. Job 10:12 You have granted me life and favor, and Your providence has preserved my spirit.
They are protected by God. Psa 91:9b-11 … if You have made the Most High Your dwelling-place, no evil shall befall You, nor shall any plague come near Your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You in all Your ways.
God values them. Isa 49:14-16 But Zion said, Jehovah has forsaken me, and my LORD has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have carved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are forever before Me.
Jer 31:3 Jehovah has appeared to me from afar, saying, Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you.
Jesus gave us the assurance, Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Psalm 17:8 reminds us that God views us as the “apple of His eye.”
The worth of our lives comes not from what we do or who we are, but from whose we are! God created you - don’t ever forget it!! You are valuable not because of your function, but because of your MAKER.
ALL human life is valuable, because God creates and sustains it, He cares for it and cares about it, He made it in His own image and for His purpose - His sacred image, and His sacred purpose.
He expects us to have the same attitude towards the life of humans because we are created in his image.
What are you doing with your life? What is your attitude towards the weak, infirm, the unseen, and the very, very small? Joni says, “I don’t want to live in a world where the bio-tech industry sets the moral agenda.” What about you?

A questioned asked in the most significant court case of all time. Today, however, the courts are not interested in the truth. You can plea bargain to get the best deal for you in court. The counsel for defence can have evidence thrown out of court as being “impermissible”. Can you believe that!?

That is utter nonsense. What is truth? If letters were written/ e-mails sent and you are afraid to be compromised by it, destroy it. If you don’t the evidence is there. How on earth can you come up with an argument that certain evidence will be to your detriment if presented to court! Either you did it or you didn’t. If the evidence is there, then all the cover up, rationalisation isn’t going to change the facts.

We are living in a society that is not prepared to take responsibility for their actions. You are speeding, see a speed trap. You step on the brakes, tires screeching, leaving black marks on the road behind you. You feel triumphant because the traffic cop could not prove what speed you drove. But does that change the fact that you were speeding?

Perhaps that is why we have fewer and fewer people with integrity.